Cal Lutheran Completes SCIAC Three-peat
EAGLE ROCK, Calif. - CLU exploded for a program-record tying 70 points as the No. 8 Kingsmen cruised to a 70-20 victory over Occidental on Saturday afternoon at Jack Kemp Stadium. The win secured a third straight undefeated SCIAC season (8-1, 6-0 SCIAC) and outright SCIAC title.
Box Score: CLU 70, OXY 20 - F
The Kingsmen, whom have won 20 straight SCIAC games, are hoping they have done enough to warrant hosting a first-round game in the NCAA Division III playoffs. The playoff pairings will be released on Sunday, Nov. 13, at 3 p.m.
CLU's only loss this season came in the opening game against Linfield, which has beaten CLU in the first round of the NCAA playoffs the last two seasons.
But if the Kingsmen can avoid drawing Linfield for a third straight time, they believe they have a good chance of hosting a first-round playoff game at their new stadium.
It would help CLU's cause if Redlands receives an at-large berth into the playoffs, which could result in a rematch of the thrilling SCIAC-opening meeting between the teams at William Rolland Stadium.
"We have done everything we could except beat Linfield and that is behind us and we have won out," CLU head coach Ben McEnroe said. "I think we are a strong candidate to host, but we are not going to complain about it if we don't. Obviously, I would love for our seniors to have another home game. But it's out of our hands now and up to the NCAA."
Against Occidental (5-4, 3-3 SCIAC), CLU's nearly unstoppable offense continued to be nearly unstoppable. The Kingsmen scored touchdowns on their first seven drives of the game and returned an interception for a touchdown for another score. The only drive CLU didn't score a touchdown in the first half was its final drive.
The Kingsmen led 35-0 after one quarter and 56-0 with 8:04 left in the second quarter. CLU's starters were already on the sideline before the first half concluded.
Karsten Lundring - aka CLU's "Candyman" - had to begin rationing his candy stock in the first quarter, fearing he would run out of treats by the end of the second.
The 70 points tied the program-record 70 points CLU scored against Whittier in 2003. It also marked the sixth straight game CLU has scored more than 50 points.
"Everybody kept looking around saying they have never scored this many points in a game before," CLU senior running back Daniel Mosier said. "I have never seen 70 points put up in a game I've been a part of. It was something special."
Mosier, a Royal High graduate, rushed 14 times for 154 yards and two touchdowns in a little more than one quarter of play. Following his performance against OXY he tied the program's single-season rushing touchdowns mark with 17. Mosier also became the fifth 1,000-yard rusher in program history and ranks third all-time with 1,027 thus far.
CLU senior quarterback Jake Laudenslayer completed 7 of 9 passes for 123 yards and one touchdown. Laudenslayer also rushed for one touchdown. He surpassed 2,000 yards for the season and currently ranks 10th all-time in CLU single-season history with 2,043 yards through the air.
Junior wide receiver Eric Rogers caught three passes for 81 yards and Deme'Trek Chambers rushed for two touchdowns.
"We challenged our kids to come out and start fast after what happened last week and they answered the bell," McEnroe said. "They did everything we asked them to do from the All-American candidates all the way down to the fourth-string guys. I am proud of them."
The Kingsmen plan to gather on Sunday to watch the NCAA pairings be released and find out the where they will begin their postseason journey.
They are hoping it's a familiar location that finally allows them to sleep in their own beds on a postseason game day.
"I do think we have made some changes and improved all year," Mosier said. "Obviously it depends on whatever the NCAA chooses. But it would be great to have a home playoff game."
